Communities Across West Virginia Rally Around the Future of Trails
By: Latoya West
Sam England, executive director of the nonprofit WV TRAIL, has spent the past few months hearing directly from West Virginians about what they want from their trail systems. After WV TRAIL led ten regional meetings and a virtual workshop, he says one theme emerged everywhere he went: people care deeply about local trails and the role they play in their communities.
“The energy and passion amongst a group of like-minded people who came together to talk about non-motorized trails was the most impressive thing to me.”
That enthusiasm comes at an important moment for the state. According to England, West Virginia’s current non-motorized statewide trail plan is 25 years old, and WV TRAIL is spearheading the effort to replace it with something modern and actionable. Since its launch in 2020, the organization has focused on promoting, expanding, and maintaining non-motorized trails across the state.
England stressed that WV TRAIL doesn’t build trails or direct where they should go. Instead, its role is to “advocate for and provide information that connects people on the non-motorized trail front.” The goal now is to take what residents shared during the listening tour and use it to help shape a plan that reflects their priorities.
A Listening Tour to Shape a New Plan
WV TRAIL didn’t treat public input as a required step; it treated it as the heart of the process. England explained why the organization chose a statewide engagement approach.
“It’s not right for West Virginia Trail to decide what should be in a plan. What’s important is that we ask the non-motorized trail community what they feel is important, so that we can get a plan that is actionable… not a bureaucratic piece, a government checkbox.”
To get there, WV TRAIL has also convened focus groups, launched an electronic survey, and worked with a consultant reviewing trail plans from other states. All of this will inform the new statewide trails plan expected in February, which communities and the state can use when making decisions about the future of non-motorized trails.
Why Trails Matter in the Outdoor Economy
As the regional meetings showed, communities across West Virginia are recognizing how essential outdoor recreation has become to local growth and quality of life. Trails sit at the center of that opportunity.
England noted that it’s increasingly unlikely “a large manufacturing plant… puts 200 people to work” in every county. Instead, outdoor recreation offers a path toward economic stability, especially for remote workers who can choose where they live and often select communities with strong outdoor access. Trails, he said, are “the primary piece” of that decision-making process.
The benefits extend far beyond talent attraction. Trails support better health, create meeting places for neighbors, and spark small-business opportunities along trail corridors. England pointed out that they also help retain current residents.
“We are creating a livability of a community so that people want to move there, and… it creates livability and positive benefits for them to stay.”
Challenges the Plan Must Confront
Community members also identified a range of challenges during the meetings. And while the future looks promising, trail development in West Virginia still requires confronting some of these realities, beginning with the state’s terrain.
England referenced the late Senator Robert C. Byrd, who he remembers once asked a reporter, “Have you ever tried to build a road in West Virginia? It’s different to trying to build a road in Kansas.” England says the same principle applies to trails.
Access is another challenge. Expectations vary from place to place: some residents want to “get on their bike at their house and be immediately onto a trail,” while others don’t mind driving ten minutes. The new statewide plan will need to consider these differences, especially in regions that “feel like they’ve been forgotten about.”
Funding may be the most significant hurdle of all. Despite the role trails play in the outdoor economy, “there is no state funding available for trail creation or maintenance, unlike all of our surrounding states,” England said. Across the regional meetings, community members emphasized the need for stable funding and leadership support.
Looking Ahead
When asked what success would look like several years from now, England said he envisions a West Virginia with “accessible trails, that are available,” and a broader culture that embraces “active transportation methods” and regular recreational use. Research shows the link between trail proximity and community health, and England believes the upcoming plan offers a chance to turn that data into real change.
“Our goal is to make a difference in people’s lives. Not only for their economy, but also for their personal lives.”
With the listening tour complete, WV TRAIL is now sorting the data and preparing the next phase of work. The statewide survey remains live, and England encourages anyone involved in the outdoor economy to visit the website and weigh in.